by T Gephart
I could have told Nick to go fuck himself. Let’s face it, it was my go-to in my bag of tricks, but I was strangely curious as to what he wanted. Our earlier exchange had intrigued me, but more than that, he did. There was something about him that nagged at me. It was like a faint memory that you strained to recall but couldn’t quite place. His insistence to speak with me confirmed there was more to know. The why of the conversation was puzzling me more than the what, but I couldn’t do it now, not when I had Alex back where I wanted him.
“Some other time maybe, Nick.” I pulled back my arm and straightened my stance. “I’m not really in the mood for a chat.”
Alex was not pleased, in fact he was the antithesis of pleased, but he was also smart enough not to pull any macho bullshit either. I was not that girl and despite his need to keep me safe, he knew me well enough to let me handle it. Of course Alex was only willing to make so many concessions as he gestured discreetly to DarNell.
“Protection?” Nick watched as DarNell made his way toward us. His question was devoid of concern or annoyance. Simply put it was just a question.
“Just a friend,” I lied not willing to show my hand without a full understanding of why he cared. Did I need protection? Alex stiffened beside me, staying silent, but making it clear he wasn’t backing down.
“You don’t need it. Not here and not from me.” Nick answered my silent thoughts. Huh? I thought Alex was the only one who pulled the mind reader shit? I was going to have to seriously work on my poker face.
“I’m not concerned.” And I wasn’t, for whatever reason. Something about him felt familiar.
“Good. Here is my card. You need to call me.” Nick fished out a business card from his inner jacket pocket and handed it to me. “Please enjoy your evening.”
Enjoying your evening? I couldn’t believe he thought he had the ability to dictate whether I would have a good time or not. Who did he think he was?
“What the fuck was that about?” Alex seethed as he looked around the room. His face tensed as he watched Nick disappear into the crowd. “Who is he?”
“Nick Cass. Club owner. Arsehole.” I played with the thick embossed card in my hand.
“He’s the owner Alex, I’m pretty sure he is harmless. I’ve looked into him and he comes up pretty clean. Nothing outstanding,” Taylah explained as she tried to reassure him that there was no more to the story. I’m not sure she was entirely convinced, but Taylah was tenacious so her investigation would have been more substantial than most.
“Nothing outstanding except for the hard on he’s packing for Lexi,” Dan unhelpfully volunteered.
“Dan not every man thinks with their dick.” Alex was already going down the I wanna-kick-his-ass road so I didn’t appreciate Dan’s insight. Besides we still didn’t know what Nick’s motives were, and he had made no indication they were sexual.
“Dan’s right. I don’t like his interest in you. D, you know anyone who can sniff around?” Alex seemed to ignore Taylah’s earlier reassurance. I guess in that way we were a lot alike. It’s hard to trust second or third hand information. It loses its reliability, and I was fairly sure the only reliable information was going to come from the man himself.
“Alex, have you been drinking? You just agreed with Dan. Nick Cass can be interested all he wants. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Lexi, a man like that does not simply walk away. He has an agenda, and I have no fucking idea what it is, but I intend to find out. I want you to stay away from him.” Despite the words he was using, this was more than a simple request. His voice left no doubt that this was a directive.
Well didn’t that make me feel like a fucking teenager being given a chewing out? I seethed, no matter how well laid Alex’s intentions were, I did not want to be told what to do.
“Are you done now?” I snapped back unable to hide my agitation as I attempted to push past him. Alex grabbed my arm, hindering my progress at a dramatic storm off.
“Lexi. Stop.”
“Alex, you stop.” I was acutely aware that Dan, Taylah and DarNell had now been unwittingly drawn into our domestic spat.
“Alex, you can’t go the rest of your life trying to protect me from things that might happen. You have to trust me.” How could things have gone so completely wrong so quickly? We were happy. For the first time in what seemed like forever Alex had touched me, wanted me, laughed with me.
“I trust you, it’s him I don’t trust. And as for me going the rest of my life protecting you, that is absolutely the way it is going to be. I love you Lexi, I can’t take a chance on something bad happening to you. Not ever again.” While his voice was not raised, Alex was resolute. No person, let alone a man had gone ‘all in’ like that with me.
It took every emotion I felt and threw them into one hell of jumble. I’d never dealt with this level of devotion before; I mean real heart and soul, epic proportion devotion. I had always done my own thing. Sure I had been labelled a bitch in the past, it was status quo for a woman who didn’t fit society’s cookie cutter image. It had never bothered me, and I had never wanted to change. Now I had to reconcile that with this, my now. The now that shared my life with this amazing man that I loved and who loved me back. I needed to stop the mindset which interpreted being protected by Alex as a loss of control or a sign of weakness.
I pulled Alex into my arms. His body, unyielding at first, was caught by surprise by my sudden need for affection. I don’t know entirely why I did it, it was out of character as I normally didn’t like public displays of affection, especially in front of our friends, but more importantly it was without thought. Just like blinking and breathing without prompts, I needed him and my body sought what my stubborn head was not willing to give. His arms wrapped around me as I nuzzled close to his chest, allowing the comfort that his strong heart beat and intoxicating scent provided to wash over me.
“Is this over now? I hate fighting with you. I mean I like it when it leads to crazy make-up sex, but somehow I don’t think that is going to happen right now.” I whispered into his chest.
Alex shook his head as he grinned. “Please tell me you didn’t start an argument with me in the hopes of great sex?”
“No it wasn’t the plan, but you know I’m all for improvisation. It was you who called me an opportunist.” I became increasingly aware of the fact we were still standing in the back of a club with DarNell, Taylah and Dan waiting to take their cue from us, and I really didn’t want to subject Taylah to Dan any longer than was necessary. “We should go. Safe to say, girl’s night has been a bust.”
“Is he coming back?” Alex looked around, not needing to explain that Nick was the he in question.
I shrugged. I doubted Nick Cass was going to be gracing us with his presence. Why would he when he could keep the whole mysterious arsehole thing going for a little longer?
“There is more to this. I don’t know what it is, but I don’t trust him.” Alex’s gaze intensified.
“Well I don’t think either of us are going to get any answers right now so I think you are going to have to let it go.” There was way more to this and I didn’t know what it was either, but Alex couldn’t be part of it. Nick had made that clear when he told me to call him to set up a meeting. I needed to know. Whatever it was, I was going to have to find out without Alex.
Chapter 4
The Way Back
THE WHOLE tone of the evening had taken a nosedive after Nick’s interjection, followed quickly by his disappearing act. Maybe that had been his plan the whole time, to rattle my cage? Assert dominance over the situation? Maybe it was sport for him? Regardless of his intentions, mine were set in motion. I needed to find out who he was and what he wanted.
DarNell was predictably annoyed, but didn’t offer any criticism either constructive or otherwise on the situation. He did, however, insist on driving Taylah home, who readily agreed. I guess a few hours with me was enough drama for anyone. I felt a twinge of guilt that our night had been cut shor
t, but how was I supposed to know? It’s not like I had picked the club. It’s not like I had encouraged the stalking either.
After Taylah’s I-expect-a-full-rundown-on-this-tomorrow pointed look, she gave me a hasty goodbye and made her way with DarNell back to the car. Dan also decided to make tracks with a busty redhead—I was hoping like hell his latest conquest wasn’t inspired by my new look—and chalked the night up to not being a total wash given that even in adverse circumstances he was still able to score. God love him, he was the supreme optimist.
Alex and I also took our leave, finding his sexy silver Maserati waiting where he’d left it, not far from the club. I discreetly tucked Nick’s card into my purse to deal with later. The drive home was silent but not uncomfortable. There just wasn’t anything much to say. Alex wasn’t going to miraculously forget about Nick’s interest in me nor was he going to stop worrying about me. So the words were left unspoken, and I hoped our earlier step forward hadn’t also resulted in ten steps back.
Entering our apartment Alex was eerily calm. The living room was dark with the only illumination coming from the cityscape framed by the large window whose curtains had yet to be drawn. The lights of the night sky always seemed settling to me, their continuity unwavering despite the madness in my life. I walked through the living space and pressed my face against the window. The city. My city.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, clearing my mind and allowing the coolness of the glass to spread across my forehead.
“Lexi?” Alex drew his arms around me from behind, pulling me closer to his large frame. “What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing. Everything. Us,” I muttered without thought as I continued to gaze mindlessly. Ordinarily I would be mortified that I could be so honest. It was still so new, but I was trying to learn a new way with Alex. As simple as it sounded, the openness was a constant struggle for me, but I wanted this to work. For us to work. It was the first time in forever I was afraid to fail.
“Us?” Alex gently kissed my neck, brushing my ridiculous red synthetic hair off my shoulders. “What about us?”
I slowly exhaled as his kisses travelled up toward my ear. “I don’t want to say it out loud,” I swallowed, the lump forming in my throat threatened to betray me. Of course saying you don’t want to talk about it is an absolute guarantee the other person is going to want to talk about it—dumbass. I’d like to think that Alex’s kisses had some kind of truth serum properties. Either that or I lost brain cells when he touched me because this conversation was not a smart move when both were so emotional.
“Lexi,” Alex whispered as he held me tighter against his body. “Please say it. Don’t hold back. Not with me.” There was a pleading in his voice that pulled at my heart. I loved it. I hated it. Damn it. Why does this have to be so fucking hard?! It would have been so much easier for Alex to be with an uncomplicated woman. Not necessarily more compliant. He was never going to be one of those guys who wanted a sit-down-and-shut-up kind of girl and not Marcy—she’d never deserved him—but anyone else, someone who didn’t require so much maintenance. It must be exhausting, loving me, and yet he wouldn’t let me go and now there was no way I ever could.
“I need you Alex. I need you so much it scares me, but I need you to need me too.” I stumbled through the words, not really sure of what I was saying. I was an educated woman, why I was I babbling like an idiot?
“That’s a lot of need, baby,” Alex laughed against my skin. I instinctively pulled away, his attempt to lighten the situation had made me feel vulnerable. “Lexi.” He pulled me back against him, spinning me around in his arms so that now I was facing him. His large body dwarfed me as he pressed me against the glass. “It was a bad joke. I’m an asshole remember? Look at me.”
I dared to raise my gaze and meet his clear blue eyes. “I need you. Sometimes I think I need you more than you need me. That’s why I fight so hard Lexi. That’s why you drive me so utterly crazy, ‘cause I know how lost I’d be without you.”
“Show me,” I whispered. A single tear fell from the corner of my eye. It was too much; these feelings, both his and mine were too much. Was it our emotional separation, the physical distance, the need for intimacy or fear? I had no clue and I hadn’t wanted to cry. It was the last thing on earth I had wanted to do, but my layers had been stripped away over the past few months and now I couldn’t stop.
He gently kissed my falling tear. “Please don’t cry Lexi, I need you. I love you.”
His mouth moved to mine. His kiss, tender yet demanding, gently played with my lips; his tongue invading my mouth. It wasn’t like at the club. The urgency was still there simmering underneath, but he was in complete control. He lifted me away from the window and pressed me against his body. His hands gently flowed over my curves, caressing and touching as they moved. My skin burned under his touch, but he refused to be hurried. My hands travelled down his chest, the firmness of his muscles evident under the thin fabric of his t-shirt. He continued to kiss me, slowly, deliciously and yet painfully slowly.
“Alex,” I moaned as my hands found the rock hard bulge in the front of his leather pants. He wanted this. He wanted to make love to me.
“Promise me Lexi,” he breathed heavily in between each word. “Promise you will tell me to stop if it gets too much.” He kissed me passionately as I wrapped my legs around his waist. He carried me through the room and laid me gently on our bed, his eyes tormented with lust. “No matter how far we get Lexi, say the word and I’ll stop. I want you to promise me. It’s the only way I can do this.”
“Alex, I won’t be thinking…” He placed his fingers across my lips to silence me.
“I know. But, I need to hear the words Lex. I need you to promise.”
“I promise. I promise.” I lost myself in his arms as I gave him permission to take my body. It was surreal saying it out loud and more importantly hearing the words. Even though it was Alex who was making all the moves, it was me who had total control. I could stop this at any time. I decided if we went any further. He had given me that gift.
He lifted off me momentarily. I protested, pulling him back, not wanting the break in body contact. He smiled his beautiful, delicious, twisted half grin. “You always were so impatient.”
He moved his hands to my wig and slowly pulled out the pins that kept it secured to my scalp. “It has to be you, Lexi. I want my beautiful wife.” I allowed him to remove the synthetic red mane slowly before I quickly popped out the contact lenses. Both my head and eyes welcomed the relief as Alex watched me shake out my own cascading brown curls. “Better,” he nodded kissing me briefly then lifting off of me again.
I raised my head as I watched him shift down the bed. He carefully took each one of my feet and released them from my obscenely high heels. His fingers massaged my toes as he allowed the shoes to drop to the floor. His agile fingers travelled up my legs, and I silently thanked alter ego Lexi for wearing such a short dress. His hands sent an electrical charge as they moved over my naked thighs.
I bit my lip as his fingers played with the hem of my dress, the anticipation driving me crazy. He peeled it slowly over my head while his eyes hungrily consumed my body. He maintained control, refusing to rush it. His chest moved steadily with each breath as he watched me lying half naked underneath him.
He kicked off his shoes with his feet, not showing himself the same consideration or care he’d shown me. I watched as he yanked off his socks and t-shirt and threw them carelessly to the floor. My hands found their way to his chest, my flat palms travelling down his now naked skin. My fingertips traced the edge of the waistband of his pants, his arousal straining against the soft leather.
“Lexi.” He whispered my name like a silent prayer and closed his eyes as I undid his belt. My fingers fumbled with the button and the zip until he brought his own hand down to steady mine. I pushed down his pants and he kicked them off haphazardly. There was almost nothing between us, but it still felt like too much. I palmed him
, pushing my hand down the front of his cotton trunks and resting my hand flat between us. He inhaled sharply, his lids flying open at the surprise of my touch.
His eyes burned as I stroked his long, hard cock. “I need to touch you Lexi.” I nodded, giving him the permission he still desperately sought.
“Remember what you promised.” He placed his hand over mine unwrapping my fingers from around his shaft. He moved both my hands above my head as he trailed his tongue down my neck. The peaks of my nipples puckered underneath the lace of my bra. I felt like I was going to explode.
“Take it off,” I begged as he swirled his tongue across my chest, gently biting the cups of my bra.
His hands wrapped around my back and with a flick of his fingers my bra was off. If I hadn’t been so turned on I would have marvelled at the sheer dexterity of his fingers. His hands travelled over the swell of my breasts, his mouth following close behind, teasing every inch of me.
My body bowed off the bed in appreciation, my hands sliding from their position on the headboard down to the mattress below. I gripped his legs as his fingers teased at the edge of my panties. “Please,” I begged, so wound up I felt tortured.
“Please, what?” He stilled, his hands stalled in their progression.
“Please don’t stop, please don’t stop.” I pleaded needing the release, needing the connection and needing to feel him inside of me.
He reached down and with the same agility he demonstrated when he removed my bra, my panties now disappeared. I tugged madly at his cotton trunks, wishing I could unwrap him with the same finesse, but I had gone past the point of caring.
“So impatient,” he smiled as he traced the length of my inner thigh with his fingertips. I didn’t know if I could take it any longer.
“Ahhh,” I moaned, half frustrated and half euphoric.
He moved his fingers to my center, my slickness coating them instantly.
